Dora Raymaker of autism.change.org points out that reaction to President Obama's ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act was not entirely positive.
As an example, read the reaction from New Mobility, titled "Obama's ADA Speech Bombs." Managing editor Josie Byzek worries that President Obama "believes most of the hard work is already done (if it was ever that important to begin with), and mainly all we need now is better medical treatment, either through stem cell research or health care. Obama’s greatest praise is for the appeasers who never complain, and he gave just a passing pat on the back for the advocates who brought the ADA into being. Job done, he seems to say. No need for that type of unpleasantness any more."
Raymaker herself wrote a thoughtful analysis about her mixed feelings about the ADA, asking readers whether the ADA should get a birthday card, a get well card, or both.
To provide a balanced report, here is the statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the ADA anniversary.
I think the real question is not what people think about the president's comments on the ADA's 19th anniversary, six months after taking office. The real test for President Obama will be when we mark the 20th anniversary and reflect on what progress this administration has made in disability policy.
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